May Day's ancient origin as a celebration of the earth's fecundity and the beginning of summer and its modern incarnation as an international worker's day may not seem to have much in common. But they are linked by the rise of industrial capitalism, which has on the one hand uprooted masses of people from the land and its cycles and sustenance, and on the other forced most people to depend on an alienating system of wages, rents, interest and profits that benefits a relative few. Movements throughout history, from the Diggers in England to the early socialist comunes to the 60's counterculture to the radical environmental movement have in various degrees combined a return to direct connection to the land with a resistance to the alien system of Capital.

An enthusiastic and well-attended "Bioregional Confluence" in Portland this past Sunday brought together people from around Cascadia to meet and attend panels on a wide range of subjects. At lunch, the assembly brought back to life, after many years without a Bioregional gathering in this region, the tradition of regional or "watershed" reportbacks. Some of those attending will call in with the issues they are working on in their areas. Listeners who attended or who have issues of their own they are working on are encouraged to call in at 503-231-8032. We hope to make this at least a semi-regular feature of KBOO Public Affairs programming.

Guests Judy Goldhaft and Emmalyn Garrett (aka Lumen) are on hand to talk about thefFirst annual Cascadia Rising: A Bioregional Confluence - A gathering dedicated to promoting bioregional awareness, Indigenous solidarity, alternative and horizontal governance tools, and community resilience in the Pacific Northwest. The event was held at Portland State University on April 20, 2014.

Host Per Fagereng speaks with former CIA analyst Ray McGovern about a variety of issues related to U.S. foreign policy including: THE REAL DEAL ON SYRIA...Why Were We Inches Away From War Last Summer?; Ukraine: One ‘Regime Change’ Too Many?: and Is Obama Afraid of the C.I.A.?
Ray McGovern leads the “Speaking Truth to Power” section of Tell the Word, an expression of the ecumenical Church of the Saviour in inner-city Washington. A former co-director of the Servant Leadership School (1998-2004), he has been teaching there for 15 years.

Once a hot topic of passionate discussion, the question "Reform or Revolution?" seems to have lost its relevance and punch. Sounds kinda quaint and archaic. Does "Revolution" mean anything in the age of Portlandia? Can we imagine anything outside the box of constituted legal institutions? Can we yet shake ourselves from our mental conditionintg and feelings of powerlessness and detachment in the face of accelerating Disaster? Can we find common ground despite the hyper-individualization we've been socialized into? My God, doesn't anyone care??? Sorry, got carried away. Well, tune in and if you've got something to say, call in. 503-231-8187.

Paul Roland talks with Ron Seifert of the Tar Sands Blockade in Texas. They discuss criticisms of the No KXL movement and different approaches to confronting fossil fuel expansion and the climate crisis. They are also joined by Gregory Vickery of The Wrong Kind of Green.

Students at Portland State University are planning a walkout this week in support of their teachers, who have reached an impasse in their contract negotiations with the university administration. KBOO's Jenka Soderberg will speak with teachers and students, and take your calls.

Audio

Paul Roland talks with Ron Seifert of the Tar Sands Blockade in Texas. They discuss criticisms of the No KXL movement and different approaches to confronting fossil fuel expansion and the climate crisis. They are also joined by Gregory Vickery of The Wrong Kind of Green.

Chrisetta Mosely has lost 170 pounds so far and changed her entire life by rebuilding her diet with fresh food. She leads groups and workshops in healthier living and her Chrisetta Mosley's Tomato Soup is sold in the refrisgerator case at New Seasons Market at Fishers Landing. She's a popular blogger and her new cookbook is Shop, Cook, Eat: Outside of the Box.

The new State Plan for Alzheimer's Disease in Oregon is designed to handle an expected tide of Alzheimer's cases over the coming decades. Join host Lisa Loving and Jon Bartholomew of the Oregon Alzheimer's Association on the group's town hall meeting in Portland this Saturday. What is your or your family's experience with Alzheimer's? What do people need to know about the disease, from your perspective? Call in 503-231-8187.

Reclaiming the Willamette River Part 2: Unrocking the Bowl. Rememberall the pals you made at the Big Float across the Willamette River? Well now we're going back to the river's edge on Saturday, Aug. 25 and building a beach. Our guests today are Will Levenson of The Big Float and microbiologist Marisa Frieder, founder of the Willamette Bridge swim.

This is part 2 of a two parter on reclaiming the Willamette--look people, are you ready to do this? And just for the record, can we think of any other projects like this that we should be doing?

Local drummers representing the African, Japanese-American, Native American and Aztec communities are coming together with muralist Rudy Serna for a series of historic performances with PEOPLE OF THE DRUM.

Obo Addy, Medicine Bear, Portland Taiko, Mexica Tiahui traditional Aztec dance circle, and muralist Rodolfo Serna are all in. They have held one event July 15 at Director’s Park in downtown Portland, and upcoming are more on August 19 at the Mt Scott Community Center in SE Portland, and October 21 at University Park in North Portland.